WHILE THE biggest turnout of Quakers was confined to the local park, the black and white flag still made several appearances at races, including one over in Scandinavia.

Over fifty members turned out to volunteer, once again, at this year’s Race for Life at South Park, where the club provided all the marshals as well as both lead bike and tail runner.

The latest 10K league race took place in the grounds of Mulgrave Castle near Whitby, which saw Quakers have the largest club turnout of any. First home for the club over the very undulating off-road distance was Marc Ellis who came home in tenth place in 43:12. He was followed in by David Todd (47:41), Mike Brown (48:11), Katherine Hackett (48:37 and first in her age category), Andrew Vernon (49:30), Gary Read (49:46), Brian Mclaren (51:20), Steven Major (56:01), Sarah Watson (1:00:28), Juliette Mclaren (1:02:22), Darryn Wood (1:06:33), Jamie Pratt (1:06:37), Darren        Alderson (1:06:37), Caroline Moses (1:07:54), Helen Whiting (1:11:12), Lisa Jenkins (1:11:22), James Simpson (1:11:23) and Lisa Alderson (1:23:05). The resulting places of Katherine, Sarah and Juliette also saw them take the women’s team prize on the day as well.

Flying the flag overseas was Melissa Hird who completed the marathon event in Stockholm, Sweden, finishing the 26.2 mile distance in 4:30:07.

Three headed over to the Lake District for the Coniston trail race series. In the marathon event, which took in a complete circuit of Coniston Water, Rebecca Howard finished in 5:32:08 with Sarah Bayles in 7:18:26. Meanwhile, Michelle Dale took part in the half marathon distance, coming home in 2:39:24.

Also over in Cumbria was Nigel Eddy who took part in the Grasmere Gallop, completing the 10K trail race in 58:36.

On the Lancashire coast, Peter Rowley ran in the 10K race at Morecambe, finishing the fairly blustery route in 50:13.

Five headed over to Kirkby Stephen for this year’s Yomp Mountain Challenge. In the long course, which covered 23 miles and took in 4750 feet of climb, Charlie Bogg completed the course in 4:59:59 along with April Corbett (5:42:50), Anthony Corbett (5:42:54) and Sandra Cass (5:42:58). Meanwhile in the short yomp, Emily Beaumont covered the 6.5 mile route in 1:26:55.

The start of the week had seen two runners take advantage of the extra day off by racing on the bank holiday. At the Ilkley trail race in West Yorkshire, Rebecca Howard covered the 6.9 mile distance there in 1:02:44. Meanwhile down in the capital, Lucy Bendle took part in the Vitality London 10K race, finishing the race which ended in St James’s Park in 1:05:14.

Midweek saw the Daisy Chain 5K trail race held over near Norton. Gary Read completed the off-road route in 19:35 followed by Dan Rowlands (21:16), Steven Major (22:36), Lewis Boshier (24:55), Gemma Eddy (25:01), Anna Hardy (25:21), Sarah Watson (25:37), Michelle Boshier (25:51), Nigel Eddy (25:55), Wendy Noble (28:36), Tracey Plaskitt (30:47), Nicola Arkley (34:40), Sharon Carr (35:52), Lisa Alderson (36:32) and Ronald Murray (43:00).

The previous week had seen the Roseberry Romp fell race, which took in an ascent of Roseberry Topping itself. Over a 5 mile route which covered 1000 feet of climb, Nicola Wells finished in 46:52 along with Gary Read (48:40), Malcolm Hewitson (59:07), Sarah Watson (1:01:08), Abigail Willson (1:01:52), Emily Beaumont (1:20:04) and Karen Dove (1:20:05).

In the Saturday morning parkruns, Brian Martin finished at South Park in 19:17 followed by James Atkinson (19:31), Chris Minto (19:41), David Todd (19:54), Adrian Cottam (20:44), Diane Vaughan (22:31), Iain Clyde (22:41), Rob Gillham (22:49), David Ledgerwood (24:07), Stuart Masterman (24:30), David Ptak (24:52), Danny Gordon (25:21), Rebecca Bowes (25:29), Dave Jones (25:30), Mark Trowles (25:36), Sandra Martin (26:27), Julie Whinn (27:09), Julie Bell (27:15), Andy Whittam (27:33), Michelle Scruby (28:31), Wendy Noble (28:47), Sue New (28:48), Lisa Jenkins (29:22), Alison Hardwick (29:51), Chris Land (30:07), Brian Dixon (30:23), Anna Hardy (31:37), Grainne Duffy (32:10), Paul Roberts (32:17), Lucy Bendle (32:27), Lisa Johnstone (32:35), Abigail Willson (34:25), Lisa Alderson (34:51), Helen Booker (35:41) and Barbra Barker (41:52).

There was a large turnout at Stewart Park, where Darren Wright finished in 19:33 along with Gary Read (19:54), Dan Rowlands (20:50), Andrew Vernon (21:25), Phil Rutter (21:49), Steven Major (24:08), Gavin Armstrong (24:09), Sarah Watson (26:02), Lewis Boshier (26:08), Michelle Boshier (26:13), Gill Colling (27:20), Tracey Plaskitt (29:13), Helen Whiting (29:38), Jo Dickinson (31:24), Sally Watson (35:32). At Albert Park, Michael Joyeux was first across the line there in 15:44 to also break the club record for his age category, while at Sedgefield, Ian Readman did the run there in 20:18 with Wendy Colling (25:17), Richard Payne (25:59), Jeff Marriott (27:01), Karen Dove (34:18) and Emily Beaumont (36:12).

At Northallerton, Adrian Colbourne finished in 22:41, Darryn Wood ran at Sunderland in 45:00, while at the Rising Sun run, Anthony Corbett and James Simpson completed the run in 28:07 and 31:51 respectively. Further afield, Dave Thompson ran at Chester in 24:11, Peter Rowley did the run at Keswick in 24:37, while at the Humber Bridge run, Mike Brown and Caroline Moses finished in 22:52 and 33:39 respectively.

Quakers Running Club meets every Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30pm at Abbey Road Playing Fields. For more information visit our website: www.quakers.run

Submitted by Rob Dent (photo by Karen Newton)